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Well, I have to say that things have finally settled down for me.  I am happy and currently living in my home in Las Vegas.  I was going non-stop for 3 straight weeks after the Olympics, traveling almost everyday.  It was well worth it, but it feels good to be home and to relax a little bit.

Go Check it out! Here are a few photos from the event...

           UFC Fighter Forrest Griffin                                  Olympic Medalist Michael Phelps                         VB Silver Medalist Nicole Davis

 

 

VB Olympic Gold Medalist Rich Lambourne

 

Life After The Olympics

 

 

After my stop in College Station, TX, I continued on to Washington DC where all Olympians and ParaOlympians were honored.  I had never been to Washington before so this trip was great for me.  We were allowed in the White House and got to tour the city for a little before departing again.

 

 

 

My next stop was California.  People Magazine, along with UnderArmour hosted a “Fun Run” in Los Angeles  where a few UnderArmour athletes got together to help out.  We were supposed to just start the runners off at the starting line but   ended up running the entire 5k.  Afterwards we signed autographs for all of the participants.

 

 

Well folks, that is about it.  I am trying to keep busy and stay out of trouble here in Las Vegas.  Working out and working for Skeletal Metal seems to keep me occupied for now.  I can not wait to get back in the gym though, I actually miss it.

 

 

Thanks for reading....  and by the way, props to my http://www.volleyball.com fans.

 

 

 To see Stacy's entire blog click here

 

 

 

2008 Silver Medalists! YES! YES! AND YES! That is all I can say....FINALLY! Finally we got what we deserve, A MEDAL. I do not care if it was brown with flies on it, as long as it was a medal. We worked so hard, went through so much and came through when it counted. We were the underdogs going into the Quaterfinals against the Italians, down 2-1, yet we won a 5 game nail biter. Then, went up against the Cubans in the Semifinals who had beaten us 3-0 pretty badly just a week before. I guess you can say we returned the favor when it counted. Then came the Finals. Against undefeated Brazil who had not lost a match nor game the entire Olympics. No matter what, we were going to medal, but we wanted that Gold. Though we fell short, we did manage to take a game off of them, something no other team had done. So much hype is put into a Gold Medal. When you fall short it seems like you have failed, you didn’t win the Gold so you have won nothing. Yes, we wanted to raise our flag higher than all three flags. Yes, we wanted to hear our Star Spangled Banner. Yes, we wanted a Gold Medal placed around our necks. But we simply got second place. Yes. Second. But our flag got raised second highest. We got Beautiful Silver Medals placed around our necks. We stood tall on a medal stand that had not seen Americans for 20 years. We are now among only 24 American Volleyball players to ever accomplish such a feat. I got to stand there with my sisters, my friends, my family and celebrate a moment that few people will ever experience. Yes we lost to Brazil. But we won a Silver Medal. ...and to us Silver is “as good as Gold.”

 

Since volleyball is the one of the only sports that goes from start to finish in the Olympics, there was no time to go and sight see or see other events. We were fortunate to have televisions in our common area so that we could watch all other sports going on during our off time. I did get to experience the Great Wall. It was beautiful and such an amazing thing to actually see with my own eyes. I could not believe that each one of those bricks was hand laid by Chinese people. Incredible. We took a lift up, walked a portion of the wall, returned and then got to toboggan down. It was so fun. Although this was the only "sight seeing" I was able to do, it was totally worth it.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Sooooo, after we returned to American soil, all of the Olympic Medalist were invited to Chicago to film Oprah’s season premier. It was so great! We stayed at the Hilton in downtown Chicago and rode on Chicago Double Decker buses, into Millenium Park, where we were greeted by hundreds of screaming fans. We then filmed the show, got to meet Oprah, took pictures with her and then all went our separate ways. It was great to see, talk and hang out with other Olympic medalists. I also got to give Oprah a big hug that was pretty dope. Since Volleyball is one of the only sports that goes from start ‘til finish in the Olympics, there was no time to go and sight see or see other events. We were fortunate to have televisions in our common area so that we could watch all other sports going on during our off time. I did get to experience the Great Wall. It was beautiful and such an amazing thing to actually see with my own eyes. I could not believe that each one of those bricks was hand laid by Chinese people. Incredible. We took a lift up, walked a portion of the wall, returned and then got to toboggan down. It was so fun! Although this was the only “sight seeing” I was able to do, it was totally worth it.

 

Well, that is all for now. I am taking some time off, traveling around, seeing friends and family. It has been a little bit hectic recently but when it all calms down I looking forward to relaxing at home for a while. I am taking my life day by day so I have no idea what the next blog will consist of....until next time....

 

Video of Stacy Playing Against China in the Beijing Olympics 

 

HELLO EVERYONE!

 

First and foremost I have to inform everyone that there are strict rules on "blogging" so there will be limited photo and video footage until after the Olympics. 

 

We arrived in the Olympic Village today. As all the athletes proceeded out the exit door, out team cut back and went out a side door because the media  was awaiting the arrival of our coach, Jenny Lang Ping.

 

It is incredible how they literally flock to her and take pictures from 20 feet away, even if it is just the back of her head in the background. 

 

 

In case ya’ll didn’t know, we have “drink” machines full of “drinks” at our disposal.  It is so great.  Also, the cafeteria is like a high school cafeteria on steriods, it is enormous and full of any and everything that you possible could want to eat.  Mickey D’s is also a sponsor and they have one inside of the cafeteria that I visit every meal.  Literally, every meal.

 

Actually, today I was sitting at the cafe enjoying my dinner, Mickey’s,  when I looked down my table and saw that I was dining with Rafal Nadal and didnt even know it.  So they should use top athletes in the next “super size me” movie.....

 

 

 

 

Opening Ceremonies was AMAZING...I did not stay for all of the activities because we played the next day and I wanted to be rested.  Before the ceremonies began, all of the US delegation met in the Fencing Hall.  We all mingled with one another and took as many pictures as we wanted.  This was the best Pre-Olympics I have experienced in all of my Olympic Games.  President Bush came and spoke to us.  We got to converse with Former President Bush and Laura Bush as well.  I mostly talked to them about Texas because that is what we have in common.

 

 

 

 Some basketball players wanted to take a picture with me so I said it would be ok...

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Getting around the Village by foot has been quite demanding on the body.  We have to walk to and from the cafeteria and buses everyday and they are not short trips.  We decided to buy bikes for everyone and it was the best decision thus far.  I love riding around the Village now on my new bike.  It will be making its way to America with me since it folds up into a little cube.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

The Village here is amazing and everything is well organized.  I am sorry there are not many pictures but I am not allowed to put a lot of things on my blog because of the limitations.

 

Please keep supporting your USA Volleyball Teams in our journey to bringing America home an Olympic Medal.

 

Until Next Time....